DUNEDIN, Fla. — It’s safe to assume that Jared Simonetti loves being on a boat more than on dry land.

What You Need To Know

  • State Sen. Ileana Garcia has introduced a bill to increase boater safety in Florida

  • The bill, if passed, would expand the list of who would be required to take a mandatory boater safety training course

  • Additionally, it would require boaters under the influence to purchase insurance in case of an accident

  • The state Senate plans to discuss this bill on Dec. 6

“Favorite place is the next place,” Simonetti, owner of Clearwater Fishing Company, said. “That’s what I love about fishing. The anticipation of the next trip is what keeps you going.”

He grew up in Dunedin and as soon as he turned 16, he got a boating license and as soon as he was 18, he began running fishing charters.

“Charter fishing was my way to be a pro fisherman and fish every day,” Simonetti said.

Simonetti’s fleet includes airboats, bay boats for the intercoastal and offshore boats.

He’s fully licensed and knowledgeable with what it takes to safely operate any of those crafts.

“My offshore boat is a federally permitted vessel, which there’s only about 1,200 federal permit holders in the Gulf of Mexico for charter fishing,” he said.

With over a decade of experience, Simonetti says spots like the intercoastal off Dunedin aren’t always calm and empty.

“People get in here and they just want to go for a joyride, and they don’t understand how a boat really operates,” Simonetti said.

He says that inexperience is what leads to a lot of boating accidents.

In 2022, according to the U.S. Coast Guard’s recreational boating statistics, there were more boating accidents and fatalities in Florida than in any other state in the country.

“I’ve seen incidents where you really wish that there was like either more law enforcement or some kind of more licensing in place.”

Simonetti says he normally isn’t for adding more laws to the books but when it comes to safety on the water, he’s all for it.

“In a populated, densely populated area like we’re in here, there really needs to be something in place,” he said.

So when he heard that State Sen. Ileana Garcia introduced a bill that would expand who would be required to take boater safety training, Simonetti fully supported it.

“There really needs to be something in place that allows people to understand boating more,” he said.

Right now, only folks born after 1988 have to take boater-safety training to get a license.

On top of expanding that requirement, people who get in boating accidents while under the influence would have to buy insurance so potential victims can receive money for any damage that might happen.

It’s a step in a positive direction according to Simonetti, who wants everyone to enjoy the water he’s grown up loving.

“It’s always good fishing,” he said. “There’s always something biting.”

As long as people are boating safely.

The state Senate plans to discuss this bill on Dec 6.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, there were 712 boating accidents in 2022, 65 of which were fatal.